Taxonomy

Doryopteris majestosa is 1 of approximately 40 species comprising the genus Doryopteris.

The genus is mostly encountered in the Neotropics, with just a couple of species occurring in the Hawaii Islands and in South Africa. Only one species - D. concolor (Langsd. and Fisch) kuhn, has pan-tropical distribution.

Full taxonomic treatment of the genus is being prepared for publication.

Morphology

Doryopteris majestosa is a magnificent species of fern. Its large and variously lobed fronds are the most notable features. They vary in shape from:

sagittate

3-5-lobate

pedate

broadly pinnatilobed

Sub-dimorphic fronds grow from the decumbent rhizome in D. majestosa:

fertile fronds are up to 80cm long - the fertile sori occur alongside the margin of the lamina

sterile fronds are smaller and grow up to 46cm long

In both types of fronds, petioles are brown to dark brown and basically circular in cross-section. On the upper side they are covered with rust-coloured hairs, which tend to be concentrated towards the base of the lamina.

Proliferous buds are present on both sterile and fertile fronds at the base of the lamina.

Look-alikes

D. majetosa was formerly known and often identified as, D. nobilis.

The 2 species are the largest species of the genus and have similar leaf architecture.

However, while revising the genus, it was noticed that the type specimen of D. noblis and all its synonyms did not bear buds.

Thus, specimens that have proliferous buds and a number of other distinct characters have been separated as a distinct taxon known as D. majestosa.

Other main characters distinguishing D. majestosa from D. nobilis are: